Rodent outbreaks in the UK are causing great harm to motorists, while rats and mice continue to chew through the wiring of vehicles parked on the road.
This information was shared by the British tabloid The Sunciting data from the insurance company Aviva. According to them, a 28% increase in the number of vehicle damage incidents caused by rodents was recorded between 2023 and 2024 in the UK.
Additionally, over the same period, the average cost of rodent-related complaints the company handled also increased, with the total value of complaints rising 11% to an average of £2,494 (approximately $3,300).
“In the winter months, rats and mice look for warmer places to nest and can squeeze into the smallest gaps, including grilles, ventilation openings or open vehicle windows,” he explained. James Driscollauto claims manager at Aviva.
“Once inside a car, rodents can cause significant damage, from chewing through wires and internal components to nesting in the engine,” he added. This can lead to breakdowns, warning lights, loss of certain functions and high costs for diagnostics and replacement of parts.
Tony Smithpest controller from All Aspects Pest Control in Reading, England, described the rat population in the United Kingdom as “out of control.” He told the Autocar which receives up to four calls a week from drivers with rodent damage problems.
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“Earlier this year, I was called to assist a client whose Porsche Cayenne it had been damaged by rats. The car needed a new wiring harness and, including diagnostics, the repair cost £7,000,” Smith revealed to the outlet.
He suggested that one reason modern engines may be more vulnerable is the use of bioplastics in wiring harnesses, which he believes are attractive to rats, potentially encouraging them to chew through the cables.
The British Pest Control Association added that more than half of its members have seen an increase in rat-related calls over the past five years, suggesting the trend is widespread rather than localized.
Unfortunately, there are limits to what pest controllers can do to effectively protect vehicles. “The law doesn’t allow us to put out poisoned bait permanently,” Smith explained.
“Among other things, we run the risk of killing field mice, which are in danger of extinction. In any case, mice are intelligent and very wary of unknown substances.”
Photo: Unsplash. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
